Lemonade Stands and the Plan of Salvation

One ice chest, a poster board, sharpie pen, and three young boys equals one lemonade stand.  In the staggering heat of southern Utah, people will pull over and throw their pocket change to young kids selling warm, watered down, over priced lemonade because they feel bad for the poor kids just about to pass out from heat stroke.

I remember being one of those red faced kids whose face would light up when a car would slow down.  We worked so hard to make money so at the end of the long hot day we could walk up to the gas station and buy a root beer.

Now every time I see a lemonade stand if possible I will pull over and pay for one of these warm, watered down, over priced, half filled cups of lemonade reflecting on my days as a lemonade salesman.  When I stop to think of what I had to offer people then and what I have to offer people now I chuckle.

As a full-time representative of our Savior Jesus Christ, sharing the message He would if He were here now, I have the privilege of offering to others the opportunity to learn about Gods plan for us as His children.  The Plan of Salvation is not watered down or overpriced.  In fact it is free of charge, refreshing, and rejuvenating to the soul.

As missionaries we have a most remarkable message that will enhance the truths one already treasure.  We invite all to consider the evidence we have that God loves is children and has once again reached out to us by revealing the fullness of His gospel to a prophet.  This prophet's name is Joseph Smith.  The evidence of this glorious truth is found in a book called the Book of Mormon which you can read, ponder, and pray about.  If you pray with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, God will tell you by the power of the Holy Ghost that it is true.  By gaining this knowledge you will also come to know how your family can be together forever.

God be thanked for once again revealing His merciful plan of happiness and fulness of His gospel to a prophet.

Nothin' Like the Old School

There are some simple truths embraced by the good people of the world.  These two short commercials are funny but true.  After you're done laughing think of the message behind the clip.

I hope we can capture the vision of being good to each other as we are brothers and sisters on this earth.

These principles are true.  Think of it, if we each could always remember our eternal relationship as brothers and sisters who would the world be different?

Charity the Greatest of All

Charity is “the pure love of Christ,” or “everlasting love” (Moroni 7:47; 8:17). The prophet Mormon taught: “Charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (Moroni 7:45; see also 1 Corinthians 13:4–7).

Jesus Christ is the perfect example of charity. In His mortal ministry, He always “went about doing good,” teaching the gospel and showing tender compassion for the poor, afflicted, and distressed (see Matthew 4:23; Mark 6:6; Acts 10:38). His crowning expression of charity was His infinite Atonement. He said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). This was the greatest act of long-suffering, kindness, and selflessness that we will ever know. With an understanding of the Savior’s enduring love, you can exercise faith and repent of your sins, confident that He will forgive you and strengthen you in your efforts to live the gospel.

The Savior wants you to receive His love, and He also wants you to share it with others. He declared to His disciples: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34–35). In your relationships with family members and others, look to the Savior as your example. Strive to love as He loves, with unfailing compassion, patience, and mercy.
As you continue to receive the Savior’s perfect love and as you demonstrate Christlike love for others, you will find that your love increases. You will experience the joy of being in the Lord’s service. The Holy Ghost will be your constant companion, guiding you in your service and in your relationships with others. You will be prepared to meet the Lord at the Judgment, when He will reward you according to your dedication to His work. Mormon taught:
“If ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
“But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure” (Moroni 7:46–48).
I know that with charity we can conquer anything the world may throw at us.  Pray for it and live as  you have prayed.

How do you know??

In a conversation I had recently, as I was telling a man of the gospel truths that I knew to be true, He asked me.  " How do you know?"  It was a simple and sincere question I had heard before and I thought of the standard answers that I tell everyone.   However, his question was so pure that it got me thinking...how do I know?...How does anyone know anything spiritual?

We know that the sun is shining when we see it.  We know someone is speaking when we hear it.  In this world if we want to know anything that is temporal then we rely on our physical senses to give us that information.  Is God going to cater to our physical senses to answer us?  He definitely could.

How will our Heavenly Father let us know He is there?  How can we know when we are receiving an answer to our prayers?

In the New Testament John tells us "26But the ^aComforter, which is the ^bHoly Ghost, whom the Father will send in my ^cname, he shall ^dteach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."(John 14:26)

Jesus Christ tells us "8But, behold, I say unto you, that you must ^astudy it out in your ^bmind; then you must ^cask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your ^dbosom shall ^eburn within you; therefore, you shall ^ffeel that it is right.

 9But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a ^astupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is ^bsacred save it be given you from me."(D&C9:8-9)

One final scripture I will share comes to us from the writings of Paul in the New Testament. Galatians 5:22 says "22But the ^afruit of the ^bSpirit is ^clove, ^djoy, ^epeace, ^flongsuffering, ^ggentleness, goodness, ^hfaith," 

When we study it out in our mind and then prayerfully seek an answer as to weather the decision we have made is correct, we can know by the fruits of the Spirit that it is right.  The Spirit of the Lord or the Holy Ghost does not throw you to the ground, punch you in the face and say "take this."  The Holy Ghost prompts so gently that we have to be paying close attention to recognize answers when they come.  Being in tune with the spirit is something that takes great effort and practice.

As I answered the man's question "How do you know?" I could say. I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that these things are true.  And not just because it was a one time thing, but I receive that same witness over and over again confirming the truths I already know.  Patient Persistence along with hope are part of the key to revelation.

I testify that anyone who is truly seeking answers or guidance from God will find it through His Spirit.  Pay attention to your feelings and to when you are feeling the 'fruits of the spirit.'

The Witnesses

Elder Jensen Nelson gave me the idea to make a post of this.  I have to give him credit.  In our last zone conference Elder Nelson, Elder Hunsaker and I sang this song from the musical called "Joseph Smith the Prophet."  This song is the testimony of the 3 witnesses; Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris.  In the beginning of each copy of the Book of Mormon is the testimony of the 3 witnesses.  Their testimony's are powerful and will stand until the end of the world.

I add my testimony to that of these men.  I know the Book of Mormon is true!

Friends and Family

When I was in my early high school years I had a pretty tight group of friends.  The friends that I had since I was knee high to a grass-hopper all went their separate ways, though we are all still fiends.  As time moved on our interests changed and I found new friends that were on the same page as me.  Eventually I started running with a pretty rough crowd and my parents were pretty concerned.  It is next to impossible to stand when all your friend's standards antagonize your own.  In the end I had to separate myself from those I called my friends.  In the time when I may have been the most lonely, I found my best friends...my family. 

Family is central to the plan of our Eternal God.  In our families we gain a sense of identity and characteristics.  I know not every family situation is ideal, but no matter our personal family situation, there is an eternal family to be had by all within the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I'm eternally grateful for the plan of happiness which assures us, as we are faithful, that we will be with those that we love for eternity.  This is done by the priesthood of God in His temples.  There is no greater joy than this!  It is my prayer that each of us will seek to secure our eternally family by showing the Savior that we love Him by keeping His commandments.

Sunlight to Warm the Soul

I'm from sunny St. George, Utah where we enjoy clear skies, calm breeze, and triple digits.  The winters are rainy and cold winter days are in the 40s or 50s.  I love the sun that seems to shine every day there in the desert.

This last winter was spent in Lander, Wy and Great Falls, Mt.  Needless to say the sun, even when it was shining, seemed dead or powerless.  Most days were spent in overcast and gloom.  Subzero temperatures dominated each day in what seemed to me to be a relentless choke hold that I was destined to endure for all time.

Often times many of us may feel that the adversary of all righteousness has a similar icy grip on our lives.  We know that we all fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), but Paul also tells us "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."(1 Cor. 15:22)   Each of us at one time or another in our lives has felt that we were in a rut.  We know what we want to change but we struggle to make it happen.  We may feel down on ourselves at our lack of ability to move forward.  We may feel that it is hopeless and that Satan has won.

I testify that Satan only wins when we let him.  No matter our situation, no matter how terrible or hopeless, we can always use our God given agency or free will to choose to pray to our Father in Heaven.(2 Nephi 2:27).  "...for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray.  But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint." (2 Nephi 32:8-9)

As we seek for help and guidance through prayer, we can know what we must 'do.'  By praying like everything depends on God and then working like everything depends on us, we will qualify for the companionship of the Holy Ghost to lighten our load and to lead us through the freezing winter, until we are brought to the warmth of the summer sun.  I also testify the seasons are a testimony of things as they are to come.  No matter how cold the winter, the summer will always come as we rely on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.